NTA: The project to expand the broadband network across the country reaches its conclusion!!!

The project to expand the country's broadband network has reached its conclusion. The project was completed in March, according to the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, with the goal of providing internet to 706 localities. Only 34 ward offices are connected to the internet. So far, 5,899 ward offices have been connected to the internet, according to the NTA. In all designated places, including the office connected in this way, there is a facility to use the internet for free for two years.

According to the NTA, all health institutions and secondary schools within the designated local level have been connected to the internet. The project aims to provide internet access to 4,237 health institutions and 5,299 secondary schools. By the end of March, 99.79 percent of the internet connection work had been completed as per NTA. This project received Rs. 5.67 billion from the NTA's Rural Telecommunication Development Fund. So far, Rs. 4.47 billion has been spent, accounting for 78.81 percent of the total budget.

NTA was tasked with laying optical fiber in designated public bodies through licensed telecommunication service providers as part of the project. NTA divided the project into 18 packages and implemented it in 74 districts. The responsibility for fiber network expansion was divided among competing service providers in various packages. Despite the fact that the project was supposed to be finished in two years, it took about six years to complete. In some locations, two years of free internet access has expired, according to the package.

NTA has paved the way for service provision in such areas by imposing an internet fee in the Kathmandu Valley. According to the NTA, eight packages have been evaluated and verified so far. Likewise, the consultant for one project completed the first phase evaluation and certification work, while the second phase evaluation and certification work for three projects was completed. A mandate has been issued to the consultant for evaluation and verification in the third phase of the two projects.